Rectifier of electric currents.



T. J. MURPHY.

RECTIFIER 0F ELECTRIC OUR-RENTS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24, 1908.

Patented Apr. 21, 1914,

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

T. J. MURPHY.

RECTIFIER OF ELECTRIC OURRENTS.

APPLICATION FILED JULYM, 190s.

1,093,71 7. Patented Apr. 21, 1914,

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

T. J. MURPHY.

RECTIFIER OF ELECTRIC CURRENTS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24, 1908.

1,093,717. Patented Apr. 21, 1914,

5 SHEETSSHEET 3.

n00 vvtoz T. J. MURPHY.

RECTIFIER 0P ELECTRIC CUERENTS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24, 1908.

1,093,717. Patented Apr. 21, 1914.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

T. J. MURPHY;

RECTIFIER OF ELECTRIC GURRENTS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24, 1908.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

UNITED STATES PATENT zonnrcn.

THOMAS J. MURPHY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

RECTIFIER 0F ELECTRIC CURRENTS.-

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 21, 1914.

Application filed July 24, 1908. Serial No. 445,102.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. MURPHY, a

subject of the King of GreatBritain, and a resident of the city ofRochester, State of F New York, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Rectifiers of Electric Currcnts,,of which the followingis a specifi; cation.

My invention relates to the rectification of electric currents.

It more particularly relates to the mechanism and the system wherebyalternating electric currents are transformed or changed into directcurrents.

It also relates to the means for causing variable currentsto be changedor transformed into substantially constant currents.

The constructions containin the invention may be varied by those ski] edin'the art to which the invention pertains according to the uses orobjects to be attained, In one form of construction, a' resistance in acircuit is cut out, short circuit or reduced. I preferably accomplishthis by means of an arcformed between the electrodes. Thearc betweenelectrodes is started at a certain point in the potential wave of thecurrent to be rectified and at a point such that the potential of thecurrent thereafter will be sufficient to sustain the are for an intervalof time and while the current passes over the arc. In the case ofalternating currents the arc may be started atany time while thepotential is sufii'cient tofmaintain the arc .duringthe remainder ofthe'iwave or for an interval of time. The are may again be started atthe same correspondi point when the potential is of opposite sign. If

both positive andnegativeparts of the wave {are used the current ispermitted to flow in 'a part of the uit in the same direction atessynchronously with the current.

whether the potential is either positive or negative. In one form ofmechanism embodying my invention when alternating currents are rectifiedI use a device which opersynchronously operating device ermits theformation of an arc across thee ectrodes at the desired point in thevariation of the main line current In the preferred fornrof theinvention, the synchronously operating de- -'vice will cause a portionof the current under high pressure to pass acrossthe electrodes attherequired point; I have also provided a The- means for causing the arcto discontinue as soon-as it reaches a potentlal below a certain amountto prevent a counter flow of current.- v

The invention in-its greater orless scope or aspect may be embodied inmany constructions different in form and arrangement.

The invention consists in features and equivalents andmodificationsthereof that appear in the following description or thatmay be disclosedin the drawings forming a part hereof and that may be suggested by thedescription and the drawings and that are included in or covered by theclaims. I

have merely shown some forms of construction containing the inventiontoshow the operativeness of such structures.

Referring to the drawings Figure l illustrates a front view of the panelsupporting parts of the mechanism. 1 Fig. 2 illustrates a side viewof-one of the devices mounted on the front of the panel. Fig. 3illustrates a detail view of part of the said device. Fig. 1

4' illustrates a rear view of the panel, parts of the mechanism beingremoved for clearness. ,Fig. 5 illustrates a detail. Fig. 6 is a. topview of the mechanism. Fig. 7 is an end View of the mechanism shown inFig; 6.

terial. 2, 2 are electric measuring devices.

3, 4 are switches for connecting in the motor and other parts of thecircuit, as hereinafter described.

Referring to the Figsjl, 5 '-and 9, 7 is a knob supported on a rod 39movable in plate 6 and secured by a screw 8. A disk 35 having radialteeth 36 is also secured to the.

shaft 39. A spring actuated knob 5 is adapted to secure rod 39 in anypredeter-' mined position to which it may be turned. The'knob 5 isconnected to a rod to which is attacheda foot 33. The foot 33 isprovided with teeth 34 which register with the radial teeth 36. The rod39 terminates in a yoke 37 having a universal joint cross P n 38 towhich rod 40 is connected. The rod 40 is connected to pin 41 and a wheel42 by means of a. universal joint 44. The pin 41 is rota- .tivelymounted in the casing and carries the pinion 42. The pinion 42 operatesupon the segment of a wheel 46 and is adapted to adjust a controllingdevice so that a reduction of a resistance in a circuit will be producedat the desired points in the main line current wave. A means forstarting the synchronously operating device is also located on thepanel. 9 is a face plate secured by screws 10 to the panel. A crank 11is located in front of the plate. It is provided with a knob 12 and ashaft 13. The crank may be turned to bring a synchronous motor up to therate of alternations of the current to be rectified. A face plate 14 isalso attached to the panel by means of the screws 15. A glass dome 16 issecured by the plate for covering a pair of electro-magnetic devices 31,32. They control the current by means of switches which they open. 17are the actuating magnets. The armatures 18 are supported on standards19. To the standards are attached right angular arms 20 which extend outunder threaded rods 21 which are attached to the armatures. The rods areprovided with weights 22 which cause the return movement of thearmatures, which is limited by the adjustable screws 23. A block 24 ofinsulating material is secured to each armature. The block is caught bya hook 25 controlled by a spring 26 and stop 27. They are supported on astandard 28. The block, 24 is adapted to spread contacts having theplatinum points 30 whereby the circuit is broken when the springcontacts are separated. After the operation of the magnets the armaturesare released by pressing the buttons 201, which operate upon the latches25 through the arms202.

I have shown and described a synchronous motor for controlling thecircuits. The synchronous motor 47 shown in Figs. 6, 7,

8 and 9 has a field magnet 48 which may be a permanent or a permanentand electromagnet. 49 and 50 are its poles. 51 is the armature supportedon the shaft 52. 54 are insulating flanges located between contact rings55 adapted to connect the armature with an external circuit. 56 57 arebearings in which the shaft 52 is supported. A part of the current to berectified is directed to the armature which causes the armature to movein unison with its change. A cylinder 58, (Fig. 9) of insulatingmaterial is secured to the armature shaft by means of a cap 59. A rod 60is mounted in the cylinder and'is moved in proximity to metallic pointsopterminals 61 and 62 which are supported in insulating shells 63. Theyare in turn supported in the blocks 64 which are secured to the wheel46. The wheel 46 is supported by the arms 66 and 67 and is movable onthe shell or flange 68, secured to the arms 66 and 67 by the screws 69.70 is a channel in which the screw 71 is secured by nut 72. The screwmoves in the channel when the wheel 46 is turned. 73 are flexibleinsulated conductors connected to the terminals which permit movement ofthe wheel 46. The motor mechanism is located on the base 74. A rightangular piece 75 (Figs. 6 and 9) secures the contacts 7 6 to the frame78. The frame 7 8 is supported by the aluminum casing 79 and 80, thecore of the magnet 48 and brass casting 45, nonmagnetic parts whichprevent short circuit of the magnetic flux passing through th core ofthe coil 48. Any means may be used to bring the motor up to synchronism.The motor shown here is first brought to synchronism withthe currentby'a crank. This is done by the chain of gears, 81, s2, s3, s4, 85, 86which may be connected to the crank 11. The shaft 87 supports the cogs82, 83, and 86 the cogs 82 having the side bearing 88 on the casing. Theshaft 87 is secured by the nut 89.. The cog 86 moves between the collar90 and the casing, and on the end of the shaft 87. The cog 86 isprovided with ratchet teeth 93. A corresponding ratchet plate 94contained in the cylindrical pocket 98 is connected to the crank 11which is pivoted in the head 95 and is pressed outward by the spring 96.The crank may be connected to the mechanism by mere pressure against thespring. Cog wheels 84 and are connected to shaft 101. 85 is a followerto 86 and 83 is a follower to 84. 81 is a follower to 82 which isattached to 81 is a pinion secured to the armature shaft. The crank thusdrives the arma- 'tiire at a high speed. The shaft 101 has two bearings102 and 103. (See Figs. 8 and 9). To one end of the shaft/101 isattached a gear wheel 104 of vulcanized material. A chain 105 passesover the gear wheel 104 and through holes located in the shelf 99. Thechain 105 passes over a gear wheel 106. The gear wheel 106 is at tachedto a hollow shaft 107 which has collars 108 and 109. Gear wheels offiber 11.0, 111 are secured in position on the cylinder 107 by meansof'the nuts 112 and 113. The whole is supported on the shaft 100 whichis in turn supported in graphite bearings 114 contained in heads 115.Wheels 116, 117 are secured to the endof the shaft 100. The wheels 116.117 consist of the carbon rings 118, 119 which are secured againstcollars 121 on castings 122 by means of the rings 123. The castings aresecured by nuts124. The wheels together with the gearing are supportedby the hanger 125 and 126. Chains 127 pass over the gears 110 111 andmechanically connect them to the gears 128 and 129. The gears 128 and129 are of fibrous material and are secured by the collars 130 and thenuts 131. They are mounted on the shafts 132 and 133. The shafts carrythe wheels 13 1 and 185 which are secured by the nuts 136. The wheelsconsist of a collar or band of steel shrunk upon the castings 137. Theshafts move in graphite bearings 139 located in the heads 140 which aresupported by hangers 141 which are pivoted on the pins 142 and securedto the shelf 99 by means of brackets 143. The position of the wheels 134and 135 may be shifted by means of the rods 145 (see Fig. 4) which arepivotally connected to the hangers. One end of each rod 115 is screwthreaded and provided with thumb nuts 14:8 and 1 19 which are located onopposite sides of the yoke 150 t which is pivoted the threaded shell151. The rods 145 and consequently the wheels are secured in position bymeans of the nuts 148 and 149, and yoke 150. There is one more cog onthe gear wheels 128 and 129 than on the.

gear wheels 110 and 111 so that the opposing portions of the wheels 118and 119 and 13% and 135 will not come into opposing relationship in twoconsecutive turns. They moreover rotate in opposite directions wherebyopposing portions move outward togetherfrom between the wheels. Thewheels 118 and 119. 13 1 and 135, constitute the electrodes betweenwhich the arcs are formed and maintained by the currentwhich is to berectified. T hey may be made of any suitable material. It has been foundby experiments that the combination of carbon with steel produces bestresults, the carbon being the negative pole and the steel being thepositive pole. A receptacle 155 is secured to the cross piece 156 whichis secured to the standard 157. The receptacle contains a transformerwhich is peculiar to my invention. It has a cover 158 and insulators159. Choke coils 160, 161 and 162 and condensers 163 and 161 arecontained in the shell and supported preferably on the transformer. Thetransformer consists of the secondary spools 165, 165 and the primaryspools 166, 166 supported on the laminated cpres 167 which with thesides 168 complete the magnetic circuit when the primary circuit isclosed. A laminated cross piece 169 is provided which shunts the fluxwhen the primary is short circuited. This regulates the currentin theprimary, the self-induction of the primary being increased according toconductiveness of the parts between the terminals of the primary. Someof the lines will shunt across under normal working of the transformerbut suflicient number of lines of force pass through the primary coil tooperate it. This prevents any damage being done by reason of accidentalshort circuit of cured to the top and bottom of the transformer. Thetransformer and the lower frame is supported on the blocks 171.

It has been found that sometimes when an arc is started across one pairof electrodes, that a current will also be established across the otherpair of electrodes which may be due to a static discharge or to shortcircuiting of the high potential current tl'irough the secondary oftransformer 203. So injurious'is this current thus established thatholes are sometimes eaten or burnt into the electrodes. This has beenentirely obviated by connecting the terminals of exceedingly highresistances 173 to the elec trodes. The resistances are mounted on theshelf 99 by standards 17%. The impedance of coils 17 of the magnet 31also operates to limit the improper sparking between the electrodes. Thesparking across the electrodes short circuits the resistances. Theresistances of the arcs thus produced is practically negligible ascompared to the resist ance of the rods so that they are practically cutout of the circuit. The high resistances practically prevent the flow ofthe current of the main circuit but when they are cut out of the circuitby the arc, the currentflows in the circuit.

Sn the shaft 101 is located a switch which operates automatically toclose the circuit. The switch comprises an insulating disk 176. as shownin Figs. 6, S, 11, 12 and 13. On the disk is mounted two movable arms177 and 178 which are limited in their movements by the pins 179 and180. The arms are pivoted at 182 and 183. The pivot pins are connectedtogether by the metallic strip 181 lo cated on side of the disk oppositeto that on which the arms are located. The stop pins 179 and 180 areconnected to the collars 181 and 185 which are separated from each otherby the insulated material 186. The collars are connected with theexternal circuits by means of the brushes 187 and 188. When the motor isstarted the shaft 101 is revolved by means of the crank 11 and causesthe arms 178. 177 to fly outward and make connections with the contacts180 and 179. When the armature moves synchro nously with the current thearms continue to maintain this position until the motor ceases to rotatewhereupon one of the arms drop down and the circuit is broken.

Referring to the diagram shown in Fig. 13, 201 is a battery to becharged, for example, by means of the rectified current. Any translatingdevice may he used. however. 203 is the source of current that is to berectified. This is connected with the circuits and mechanisms embodyingmy invention. The following connections may be made which however may begreatly modi tied: The switch 202 is a three knife switch the primary.Frames 168 and 170 are se 1 one being for the return wire the outside 1,essor? knives being so connected to the coils 17-17 of the cut-outmagnets 31 and 32 that the coils 1717 of the switch 32 are in shunt withthe battery. The magnets of switch 31 are connected to the steelelectrodes 134C and 135, the circuit being completed through theelectrodes 118 and 119 and return wire and any device that may belocated therein. The electrodes 118, 119 are also connected directly toa source 165 of high potential current.

The armature 51 which moves in unison with the variations of the mainline current, controls the teascr circuit that is a circuit having asource 165 of high potential current. The terminals on one side arecompleted by the conductor 60 so that the electrodes 13 1 receives acharge from the teaser circuit having the source 165 the instant thatthe conductor 60 passes, the terminals 61 and in like manner electrode135 is charged when the conductor 60 passes the terminals 62. Theopposite side of the teaser circuit is connected with the electrodes118, 119 so that the condensers 163, 16 1, charged by the high potentialcurrent, are discharged by the synchronously operating device across theelectrodes on one side or the other, as the current changes sign and atcertain points in each wave. Choke coils 160, 161 and 162 are connectedto the secondary coil 165 for protecting the parts of the teasercircuit, and preventing a discharge or a reaction through the secondary165.

The operation of the mechanism is as llows: lVhen it is desired torectify the current the switches 202, 8 and 4 are closed and at the sametime the crank 11 is pushed in so that the disk at will engage with theteeth J3'and turn the armature. This will cause the armature to speed upuntil it moves synchronously with the alternations oi the current whichnow passes througl'i it by reason of closing the said switches and theautomatic switch on the shaft 101. The motor will then maintain thatspeed. "he terminals 61 and 62 located on the wheel 16 are then adjustedto the proper position by the operation of the knob 7. This positionbeing such that the condensers 163 and 16 1 charged by the highpotential teaser current will be discharged across the said terinitialsand conductors and across the electrodes 134i and 118 on one hand and134C and 119 on the other at such times when the potential of thealternations of the current or the variations thereof is at such pointthat it will maintain the are once started by the hi 'h potential teasercurrent notwithstanding the counter-electromotive force either of be arethus formed and of the storage battery or other device bperated upon.The are being formed and maintaiaed by the niain line current, itcompletes a circuit through the electrodes 13% and the other pair ofterminals 62.

and 118 to the battery 201 during one part of the wave while the arebetween the electrodes 135 and 119 completes the circuit from the mainline to the battery 201 during the othu part of the wave but the currentis directed to the battery or translating device at all times in thesame direction, that is, it is rectified and at such a potential as willmaintain its flow and so that all of the useful parts or" the waves ofthe alternating current will be utilized. This renders the systemexceedingly economical and ellicicnt. The rotation of the electrodescauses the arcto discontinue immediately when the potential falls belowthat point wherein the arc may be normally sustained. It prevents themaintenance of the incandescent vapor or gas which cuts down theresistance, and is thus ruptured at the proper point and discharge ofthe battery E201 and other deleterious effects are ob viated. Theswit-ch32 operates to disconnect the motor when the potential of thebattery rises to such a point that it will cause the magnets 1'? toovercome the weighted armature 18 and open the contacts 30. 11 thecharging current should become too large by some unexpected circumstancethe cutout 31 will operate, the coils 17 of the said cutout beingconnected in series with the electrodes 13%, 135 and with the battery201 The transformer 166 is connected through the one blade of the switch202 to the line transformer 203 on one side and through the switch 3 andcontacts 30 in switches 81 and 82 and through another blade of theswitch 202 to the line transformer 208 whereby the circuit of theprimary 166 is completed. he secondary 165 of the transformer is thesource of the high potential current for charging the condensers 163 and164C and producing the spark across the electrodes 118, 134C and 119,135. The secondary 165 has a large number of turns whereby the potentialproduced between the terminals of the coil 166 is greatly magnifled. Areturn is connected to the center of the coil 165 which is alsoconnected to the electrodes 118 and 119. The circuit is completedthrough one o1 the pairs of electrodes on one side one pair of terminals61 and on the other side the circuit is completed through the other pairof electrodes Condensers 163 and 16% are connected to the return and tothe terminals of the secondary 165. this arrangement the condensers arecharged by the secondary 165 and then at the proper time according tothe adjustment of the position of the terminals 61 and 62, oscillatorydischarge of the condenser is produced between the .electrodes, theinstant the conductor passes each pair oi? tern'iinals The devicesherein disclosed merely con- V stitute embodiments of my invention. TheyWhat I claim is new and desire to secure by' Letters Patent is asfollows:

1. In a rectifier the combination of a source of alternating current, aplurality of pairs of electrodes, a high resistance connected in shuntwith each pair of electrodes, a circuit having a source of highpotential current, means for causing the said high potential current topass across the said pairs of electrodes in succession.

2. In a rectifier the combination of a circuit having a source ofalternating current, two pairs of electrodes connected with two branchesof the said circuit, a return wire, a circuit having a high potentalcurrent, a high resistance connected in shunt with each pair ofelectrodes, means for causing the last named circuit to be completedalternately through the said pairs of electrodes synchron( usly with thecurrent of the first named circuit.

.3. In a rectifier the combination of a main circuit, and a subsidiarycircuit having a source of a variable current, a high resistance bodylocated in the main circuit, means for shunting and short circuiting thehigh resistance body synchronously with the changes of the current inthe first named circuit.

4. In a r ctifier the combination of a circuit, having a source ofvariable current, a high resistance body located in the said circuit, apair of opposing electrodes connected to the terminals of the highresistance body, a translating device located in the circuit of the saidelectrodes, means for short circuiting the high resistance body acrossthe electrodes periodically as the current in the said circuit changes.

5. In a rectifier the combination of a main circuit, a source ofalternating current, a translating device, two resistance bodiesconnected in the said circuit, means for alternately cutting the saidresistances out of the circuit as the current changes.

6. In a rectifier the combination of a main circuit, a source ofalternating current, a translating device and two resistance bodiesconnected in the said circuit, a subsidiary circuit, means controlled bythe current of the first named circuit and adapted to be connected inthe second named circuit for cutting the resistances out of the circuitalternately.

7 Ina rectifier the combination of a main circuit, a source ofalternating current, a translating device, two resistance bodiesconnected in the said circuit, a pair of electrodes connected to theterminals of each resistance body, a subsidiary circuit, a meanscontrolled by the current of the first named circuit and adapted tocomplete the second named circuit across the airs of electrodesalternately and through t e translating device. a

8. In a rectifier the combination of a shaft, a pair of electrodessupported on the shaft, gear wheels of insulating material .connected tothe said shaft, a pair of electrodes, a pair of shafts for supporting'the said electrodes connected to the said gear wheels.

9. In a rectifier the combination of a pair 'ofshafts, electrodessupported on the said shafts, insulating gear wheels mounted on the saidshafts, gear chains connected to the said gear wheels and means forcausing the said chains to rotate the said gear wheels.

10. In an electric device the combination of electrodes, gear wheelscomposed of insulating material for causing the said electrodes torotate, a motor, chains connected to the motor and the ear wheels,whereby the motor is insulated rom the electrodes.

11. In a rectifier the combination of a pair of electrodes, a shaft forcausing the said electrodes to rotate, a pair of shafts, a second pairof electrodes, one mounted on each of the last mentioned shafts, gearwheels composed of insulating material for causing the said electrodesto rotate, whereby the said electrodes are insulated from each other.

12. In an-apparatus for rectifying currents of electricity thecombination of a shaft, a pair of electrodes supported on the shaft, acylinder supported on the shaft, insulating gear wheels connected to thesaid cylinder,'annular nuts for securing the said gear wheels to thesaid cylinder.

13. In an electric device, the combination of a conductor, a pluralityof pairs of terminals, means for causing the said conductor to rotateabout the axis parallel to the conductor and in proximity to each pairof terminals and means rota-table about the axis for adjustingthe saidpairs of terminals with respect to the axis of the rotation of theconductor. 7

14. In a rectifier, the combination 'of a source of alternating current,a translating device, means for completing the circuit through thetranslating device periodically as the current alternates and anelectric switch operated by the current passing through the saidtranslating device for controlling the said means.

15. In an electric device the combination of two pairs of terminals, aconductor, a motor adapted to move the said conductor in unison with thecurrent passing through its armature and in proximity to the said pairsof terminals, a wheel for supportmg the said terminals, a meansconnected to the said Wheel for varying the position of the saidterminals around the said conductor and a means for locking the saidWheel in its adjusted position.

16. In an apparatus for rectifying currents of electricity, thecombination of a cylindrical block having a recess, a conductorsupported in the said recess, a plurality of terminals, means forcausing the said conductor to move in proximity to the said terminals.

17. In an apparatus for rectifying currents of electricity thecombination of a shaft, an armature supported on the said shaft, aninsulating; cylindrical block sup- I ported on the said shaft, a rodsupported in the said block, terminals, a Wheel for supporting the saidterminals, means for adjusting the said terminals, With respect to thesaid shaft.

18. In a rectifier the combination of a source of electric current, twopairs of electrodes, an overload cut-out controlled by the currentpassing through the said electrodes,

a storage battery, an electric cut-out controlled by the current of thesaid storage battery and a synchronously operating device and atransformer connected to the said electrodes and controlled by the saidout outs.

19. In an apparatus for rectifying currents of electricity, thecombination of a synchronous motor, an insulated conductor connected tothe shaft of the said motor,- a pair of terminals located in proximityto the path of rotation of the said'conductor, a Wheel insulated fromand adapted to support the said terminals, a manual means for causingthe rotation of the said Wheel, a

ratchet attached to the said manual means and an elastically operatedmeans for securing the said ratchet in position.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS J. MURPHY. /Vitnesses MARY I3. DICKENS, J AS. P. B. DUFFY.

